EARLY CAREERS

Apprenticeships

About this programme

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship programmes give you the opportunity to earn while you learn, in a leading global law firm. You'll gain the experiences, skills and training to kick-start your career, in a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be working in our firm from day one while receiving dedicated coaching from colleagues and an apprenticeship tuition provider.

Solicitor Apprenticeship

Become a qualified Solicitor with our 6-year Solicitor Apprenticeship programme. You'll study towards:

A Qualifying Law Degree in Legal Practice and Skills
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Character and Suitability Assessment, and
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE Parts 1 & 2)

This year's Solicitor Apprenticeships will be based in our London office.

On our Apprenticeship programme, you'll gain the experiences, skills and training to kick-start your career, in a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be working in our firm from day one while receiving dedicated coaching from colleagues and the apprenticeship tuition provider. During the programme, 20% of your time will be spent on off-the-job learning which equates to one day per week, allowing you to focus on developing the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours chosen by industry experts, to help you build a strong career.

You will also receive a salary and have your apprenticeship fully funded and ultimately you will leave the programme fully qualified with a wide range of work experience and with no student debt!

Other benefits include:

A government accredited Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship (equivalent to a master’s degree)
20% of your time to spend on off-the-job learning, this enables you to dedicate time for your academic learning
A professional qualification, technical and non-technical internal learning, coaching, work-shadowing and many other experiences to support your development
Tracked progression across your apprenticeship, allowing you to see how you are developing against the apprenticeship standard and what’s coming next
A large support network including a supportive team, supervisor, skills coach and buddy
A dedicated Apprenticeship Programme Manager who will provide advice, targeted development opportunities specific to your need and pastoral care support

Read our FAQ section to find out more.

Please note: We are no longer accepting applications for this role.

Am I eligible?

As a firm we do not have any academic requirements to apply for our Solicitor apprenticeship, however the tuition providers we work with do have minimum academic requirements.

You will need at least three C’s at A Level and five GCSEs, including Maths and English, or equivalent, at Grade C/4 or above
You need to have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years
Please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility

Programme Update

Please note: We are no longer accepting applications for this role.

Accessibility

At DLA Piper, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments and removing disability-related barriers. This is so everyone, irrespective of a visible or non-visible disability, neurodivergence, a long-term health condition or injury, has an equitable opportunity to succeed in our recruitment process.

If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please get in touch with our Early Careers team and we will be happy to support you.

We understand that sharing your needs with us may feel daunting. We will have an open discussion with you about what will work best for you in the recruitment process, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with. Our team will ensure that the information you provide will be treated confidentially. The information will only be shared with others involved in the process, on your approval, and where necessary.

We will use the information you share to put adjustments in place for you at any stage, or at multiple stages, of the recruitment process. This is to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, and to have an equitable opportunity to perform and thrive.

Recruitment roadmap

Application form

Our application form will capture some key information regarding yourself and will also ask you to submit an answer to our application question regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper. We will also ask you to submit a CV.

Rare

DLA Piper is proud to use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS). We will ask all applicants to complete a contextualised information survey, which is not mandatory. The CRS allows us to understand each candidate’s achievements in the context that they have been gained. We understand that not all candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, regardless of their background.

Video interview

The video interview has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to the role you have applied for. It will consist of three questions which are focused on the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper.

Assessment Centre

The final stage is an Assessment Centre. It will comprise of exercises which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths and help us get to know you better.

Ready to shape your future with DLA Piper?

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of applying for apprenticeship programmes, compared to traditional qualification routes?

On an Apprenticeship programme, you'll gain the experiences, skills and training to kick-start your career, in a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be working in our firm from day one while receiving dedicated coaching from colleagues and the apprenticeship tuition provider. You will receive a salary and have your apprenticeship fully funded. Ultimately you will leave the programme fully qualified with a wide range of work experience and with no student debt!

Benefits include:

A government accredited Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship (equivalent to a master’s degree)
20% of your time to spend on off-the-job learning, this enables you to dedicate time for your academic learning
A professional qualification, technical and non-technical internal learning, coaching, work-shadowing and many other experiences to support your development
Tracked progression across your apprenticeship, allowing you to see how you are developing against the apprenticeship standard and what’s coming next
A large support network including a supportive team, supervisor, skills coach and buddy
A dedicated Apprenticeship Programme Manager who will provide advice, targeted development opportunities specific to your need and pastoral care support

What are you looking for in apprenticeship applicants?

We are looking for talented school leavers and career changers who are looking to continue their education while working to build their knowledge and experience as a Solicitor. We are open to a wide range of previous academic and work experience, if you believe you can add value to the firm then please apply! We are looking for your potential and we will assess your suitability for the apprenticeship through the application process. Good luck!

What qualifications are required to apply for the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme?

As a firm we do not have any academic requirements to apply for our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, however the tuition providers we work with do have minimum academic requirements.

You will need at least three C’s at A Level and Maths/English GSCE at Grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications)
You must also have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years

If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, please get in touch with us to discuss your eligibility.

How much of my work week will be reserved for study leave?

20% of your time will be spent on off-the-job learning which equates to one day per week, allowing you to focus on developing the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours chosen by industry experts, to help you build a strong career. One day per week will be a mixture of in person and virtual study sessions, lectures and focused study time dependent on the apprenticeship you apply for.